The PEO for venture-backed tech and life-sciences startups
Our take
Sequoia One is the PEO we recommend when a venture-backed tech or biotech company asks 'who handles equity comp properly?' Their expertise on option grants, cliff vesting, contractor-to-employee conversions, and IPO-readiness payroll is genuinely best-in-class. The price reflects the specialization. If your company is outside tech/life sciences, they probably won't be a good fit, and they may not even quote you.
• Venture-backed tech startups (5–250 employees)
• Life sciences and biotech
• Companies with significant equity-comp programs
• SF Bay Area / NYC tech hubs
• Blue-collar industries
• Companies outside the tech / life-sciences vertical
• Buyers wanting low-touch service
Compare Sequoia One against other PEOs
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Get a free comparison →📅 Schedule a callRead: Sequoia One alternatives comparedAnswers come from Sequoia One’s profile in our directory, verified September 2026.
Sequoia One fits: Venture-backed tech startups (5 to 250 employees), Life sciences and biotech, Companies with significant equity-comp programs and SF Bay Area / NYC tech hubs. Its published company-size range is 5 to 250 employees, and it writes Technology, Software, Life Sciences, Biotech and Venture Capital. Purpose-built for venture-backed tech and life sciences with the deepest equity-compensation expertise in the PEO industry.
Sequoia One is not the right fit for: Blue-collar industries, Companies outside the tech / life-sciences vertical and Buyers wanting low-touch service. Narrow industry focus, will decline buyers outside tech and life sciences regardless of size.
Sequoia One does not publish rates. Pricing model: Quote-only PEPM (premium tier), quoted per client from your census, state mix and workers comp class codes. Contract terms: Annual contracts.
Yes. Sequoia One is on the IRS certified PEO (CPEO) list and is ESAC accredited. A CPEO takes on sole liability for federal employment taxes and avoids the wage-base restart when you join mid-year.
The providers most often compared with Sequoia One are TriNet, Justworks and Rippling. The right alternative depends on why you are looking. The usual reason: Narrow industry focus, will decline buyers outside tech and life sciences regardless of size. A free side-by-side puts Sequoia One next to the PEOs that fit your headcount, states and industry.